Don’t forget – there is a mandatory meeting for scouts going to Camp Mach, and for parents of scouts going to Camp Mach for the first time, on Tuesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. at RPC.

We have 33 scouts signed up for Camp Mach and nine leaders. On Tuesday scouts will be signing up for the merit badge classes. Please refer to pages 20-24 of the Camp Leader’s Guide for descriptions of the classes available. First-year campers should take (guess what?) the First Year Camper (FYC) class. This class is offered in the morning opposite Swimming. Most new scouts will want to sign up for FYC and Swimming in the morning, and one additional merit badge in the afternoon.

Call of the Wild is available only for scouts 15 years and older. See page 26 of the Camp Leader’s Guide.

If you have not already paid for the bus, please bring a check for $100 made out to Troop 24.

For all boys and leaders who will be going to Camp Mach, Troop 24 has contracted for a bus at a cost of $100 per scout. We are assuming that all scouts and leaders will be riding the bus, with the exception of three leaders who will be driving to pull the trailer and provide transportation for the rafting outing. For those of you who have not been to Camp Mach before, mapquest.com estimates that it is a 5-hour, 45-minute drive. It’s 331 miles, one-way. If your car gets 25 miles per gallon, at $4/gallon in gas, it would cost $106 in gas to drive up and back. For scouts who may be a little nervous about being away from home for a week, it’s usually easier if the scouts leave their parents, rather than parents leaving scouts at camp. Please reserve your space on the bus as soon as possible by dropping off a check to Nancy Hopkins, or by bringing it to the Troop meeting on Thursday. Checks should be made out to Troop 24. Please don’t delay in reserving your spot on the bus. If we have any extra seats we want to try to “sell” them to scouts from other troops.

If you haven’t signed up for Camp Mach yet, it’s not too late!

All scouts who will be attending Camp Mach should review the list of Merit Badge classes offered, which can be found on pages 21-24 of the Camp Mach Handbook. The schedule for the Merit Badges is on pages 27-28. It’s Troop 24 policy that First Aid not be completed at camp. The shooting sport merit badges are only available for older scouts. All first year scouts should sign up for “Brownsea” also known as “First Year Camper.” If you have any questions about the merit badge classes, please discuss them with Mr. Ringbloom or Mrs. Gustafson.

We will have a meeting about Camp Mach on June 3 at 7:00 in the Social Hall at Riverside Presbyterian Church.  All scouts going to Camp Mach, and parents of 1st year campers, are required to attend.

Every scout attending Camp Mach needs to have a current medical form. Forms can be downloaded. The part labeled “Class 1” is to be filled out by a parent annually. The part labeled “Class 2” is to be filled out by a doctor and must be done every three years. In other words, if your son has had an exam within the past 3 years, depending on your physician’s policy, you may be able to have the form filled out by asking the doctor’s office to do so without making an appointment for an exam. However, if you need to make an appointment, this is just a reminder to do so to be sure you have the form completed in time for camp. Forms should be turned in at a Troop meeting or dropped off at Nancy Hopkins’ house no later than July 10.

Just a reminder, if your son normally takes medication during the school year, it is BSA policy that he take that medication while attending summer camp. The medications will have to be disclosed on the medical form and given to a leader to bring up to camp. There is a medical officer on staff who will administer the medications. If you have any questions regarding meds at camp, we will try to answer them at the Camp Mach meeting.

The deadline for the discounted Camp Mach rate for our new scouts is April 30, so permission slips and a check for $200 must be turned to Nancy Hopkins by April 29. (The regular rate is $225.) If you need the address or directions to drop off the form, please e-mail. The permission slip can be downloaded here. Last year all of our new scouts attended Camp Mach, and we hope to have as good a turnout this year. It looks like a bus will be available, but we will not know the price until we know how many boys are going. Please don’t delay in registering! Also, medical forms are available here. A form is required for every scout.

The DesPlaines Valley Council now has the 2008 Camp Mach information on-line. See the schedule, the merit badge classes offered, etc. in the Camp Guilde. Also visit the Council website for links to the medical forms you will need to complete before attending camp. A Class 1/Class 2 medical form is required for every participant under age 40. The Class 2 portion must be completed by a doctor, certifying that the scout/leader has had a physical within the past 36 months. Leaders 40 and over must submit the Class 3 medical form annually. Completed medical forms can be turned in at a Troop meeting or given to Nancy Hopkins. Please retain a copy for yourself. The Camp Director will keep the copies we give them.

A reminder: you have until May 29 to register for camp, but earlier registration would be greatly appreciated so we can arrange appropriate transportation. Scouts who just crossed over have until the end of April to sign up at the “early-bird” rate of $200 (rather than $225). Registration forms are available here.

Camp Mach is one of the highlights of the year for Troop 24. The date of the camp is Sunday, July 27 through Saturday, August 2. We have 17 scouts already registered (six from the Cobras, five from the Scorpions, and six others). Last year we had 100% of our new scouts attend Camp Mach. The scouts who crossed over in February have until the end of April to register and pay the “early bird” price of $200. (The regular price is $225.) Although we will accept registrations until May 29, it would be very helpful in planning transportation to know soon approximately how many will be attending. Registration forms are available here. The form and a check for $225 (or $200 for new scouts) made out to Troop 24 can be turned in to Nancy Hopkins, or brought to a troop meeting.

Visit our photo gallery to see pictures from Camp Mach.

24 scouts sold popcorn this fall and can use the popcorn money earned for partial payment of Camp Mach. If you don’t remember how much of a discount you earned, please contact Deb Cox or Nancy Hopkins. Remember, permission slips are due by Friday, January 25 for the early bird rate of $200.